Usually, when foreigners move to Bulgaria they tend to head to the villages for a new life. This is because, generally, they are looking for the opposite of their hectic lifestyle back in their home country, and rural life to them seems like a much more satisfying option than city life. However, like every decision in life, there are both advantages and disadvantages to living in a village.

Therefore, it is crucial that you weigh up the good and the bad sides before making any irrational decisions.

Advantages

Village life can be appealing to many foreigners, primarily because of the peace and quiet. Expats find it a relief to live somewhere with very little noise and next to no bustling traffic. The nature and wildlife is another attractive feature to living in a village. It isn't rare to look out your window and spot a range of different birds fluttering about the garden. In the summer months, you're also bound to see a snake in the garden or on the paths and roads. As well as the sightseeing there's also the picturesque scenery to take advantage of; going for walks or bike rides can be a lovely experience, especially whilst enveloped by the mountains. It is defiantly worth taking a camera with you on one of your journeys. There is always something interesting to be captured.

Living in a village also gives you the opportunity to go green and grow your own fruit and veg. Initially, it can be a difficult task, more so if you aren't used to doing much gardening. But after a few lessons from your neighbors, who are usually happy to help, growing vegetables can be an enjoyable and rewarding hobby. There is nothing more fulfilling than picking your own tomatoes and cucumbers from their plants - and they're delicious too! It is, however, important to remember to maintain your garden patch; weeding, feeding, watering and pruning are all part of the process.

Bulgarian villages are also well known for their friendly communities. Helpful, welcoming neighbors are all part of the package of living there. More or less as soon as you move into your country home your neighbors will make themselves known, inviting you to their home for a homemade alcoholic beverage and meze (Bulgarian Tapas). Not only will you enjoy yourself but you'll also begin picking up the language, learning a few words here and there with help and hand gestures from your neighbors. It is defiantly necessary to understand Bulgarian, even if you only know basic words, as it will come in use when buying food and drink from the local shop. You will find that in villages, not many Bulgarians speak English, so therefore, this leaves you forced to learn a few words to get by.

Disadvantages

Rural life isn't always as supreme as it may seem, though. It has its negative sides too - One being, strangely enough, the quietness. This can prove to be both a good and a bad thing. However, sometimes the tranquility of the village can become tedious, especially if you are used to living in a town or city. Expats living in villages can grow tired of having to travel everywhere by car; as you can't get everything you need from the village. A number of villages don't even have a shop. It really depends on which village you choose to live in. Some villages - the villages with a higher population of people - are equipped with a shop or more, a small doctors surgery, a post office and bus stop. But even foreigners living in bigger villages still find themselves travelling to surrounding towns on a regular basis. This not only becomes frustrating, but can become costly too particularly because most Bulgarian villages are far away from the major towns.

Another down side to rural life is the lack of work. This is, in fact, a major dilemma to expats wanting to earn some money. The only form of work available in villages is building and renovating. However, this work is more often than not given to Bulgarians over foreigners. Unless you set up your own business, it is next to impossible to find a job.